Wachiska Audubon Society

We own Prairie Pines Nature Preserve and manage ten tallgrass prairies. Conservation.Education.Advocacy for the natural world. Below is a list of those prairies.

Wachiska Audubon Society offers a number of events you may want to participate in. GENERAL MEETINGS:

Currently our monthly presentations are being held via Zoom. You may pre-register for these free, public events via link on the Facebook invitation under EVENTS or by visiting our website. You may use the Zoom ap OR simply use a browser link. Members and guests gather to hear guest speakers who ar

e recognized authorities on nature, travel and the world around us and to receive updates on chapter events and area birding. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M in Room 03 (lower level) of the Dick Administration Building on the campus of Union College. 48th and Bancroft Avenue, in Lincoln, Nebraska. FIELD TRIPS:
Monthly trips to scenic local and regional areas hlep birdwatchers sharpen their skills, let wildflower enthusiasts discover the best prairies, and , in general, prive members and gusts opportunities to get acquainted with like-minded individuals. BIRDATHON:
In May, Audubon members conduct a census of bird species at the peak of spring migration. Members, friends and businesses are invited to make a pledge per species or a flat donation to support the chapter's work for the upcoming year. BACKYARD HABITAT TOUR:
Held each spring, this tour opens the yards of local citizens, allowing visitors to gather ideas on landscaping to attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife. FALL & SPRING BIRDSEED SALES

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT:
Wachiska owns several prairies in southeast Nebraska that the public can visit any time of year free of charge. Dieken Prairie (14 acres, Otoe County, southwest of Unadilla NE)
-- 1.5 miles south on Rd 20 from northwest corner Unadilla and NE 02/Rd 20 intersection to intersection with Rd I, 0.75 miles west on Rd I; Prairie located on south side Rd I and in the northwest corner of the northwest quarter section.
-- Good wildflower displays are seen throughout the year. Visit in late May to Mid June for prairie phlox and narrow flowered scurf pea. Mid June to early July is best for New Jersey tea, black-eyed Susans, and leadplant. Rough gayfeather is outstanding in August. Downy gentian and ladies’ tresses are seen in good numbers in September and October

Klapka Prairie (400 acres total, Pawnee County, southeast of Table Rock NE)
-- Native unbroken prairie: 25 acres-excellent condition in 3 separate locations; 111 acres-fair/good condition in 3 separate locations; 32 acres-poor condition in 1 location; balance of property in various stages of prairie restoration
-- At east edge Table Rock and intersection NE 04 and Pawnee Street, proceed east-southeast on Pawnee Street until intersecting with Ave 626 (~0.25 mile), proceed south ~ 2.25 miles on Ave 626 to the intersection with Rd 712; ~120 acres located immediately southeast of intersection, ~ 240 acres ~0.5 miles east on north side of Rd 712, and, ~40 acres 1 mile east on south side of Rd 712; Native prairies in excellent condition located in three separate locations on property (need a map for precise locations). Lamb Prairie (6.3 acres, Johnson County, southwest of Sterling NE)
-- 2 miles west from Sterling west end on NE41/43 to Ave 608 (Lutheran Church on north side road at intersection), 2 miles south across BNSF RR tracks to intersection with Rd 732; Prairie in the northeast corner of the northeast quarter section, and, southwest corner of intersection.
-- This small hilltop prairie is packed with wildflowers. Especially prominent are lead plant, purple prairie coneflower, plains evening primrose, and pruple prairie clover. Best time to visit: late June to Early July

Storm Prairie, aka Yutan Prairie (21 acres, Saunders County, northeast of Yutan NE)
-- 1.0 mile north on Rd 5 from Rd 5/NE 92 intersection at the southeast edge Yutan to Rd N, 1 mile east on Rd N to intersection with Rd 4, 0.5 mile north on Rd 4; Prairie on east side of road bordered by evergreen grove on north and NRCS Conservation Easement prairie on south. (These are unimproved roads. If Rd N is not passable, proceed 1 more mile north on Rd 5 to Rd O, followed by traveling 1 mile east on Rd O to end of Rd O at intersection with Rd 4, and, 0.5 mile south on Rd 4 to prairie site on east side of Rd 4.) (The prairie does not have a sign!)
-- A Platte River floodplain prairie, this one is a good location for seeing bobolinks in late May and June. A rare plant, the wood betony or lousewort, blooms in May. Tall gayfeather and compass plant bloom in mid July to early August

Wildcat Prairie (30.5 acres, Gage County, south-southwest of Virginia NE)
-- 7 miles south on Liberty Road (S 162 Rd) from northwest corner Virginia and NE 04/Liberty Road intersection to “Stop” sign on B-Line Rd, 1 mile west on B-Line Rd to intersection with Rd S 148; 1 mile north on Rd S 148 to E. Osage Rd, 0.5 mile west on E. Osage Rd; Prairie located on north side of E. Osage Rd (E. Osage Rd is a minimum use “minimum maintenance road”)
-- One of the best displays of orange-red flowering butterfly milkweed plants anywhere. The milkweeds plus dark blue scurfpea and yellow black-eyed Susans form a great combination from mid June to early July.

06/05/2026

🩷We've been working really hard these past four months planning everything for our shared celebration of Give to Lincoln with our fellow green alliance peers; including Volunteer Days, Bird EnCOUNTer, Speaker Series, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Return of the Thunderbirds, public prairie visits and bird hikes and preparing for the upcoming Tour the Wild Side! Needless to say, we are looking forward to celebrating with our friends, new and old!
Ticket sales are officially closed, and we're looking forward to a wonderful Comedy in the Pines this Sunday! We have two meteorologists and a couple storm chasers keeping a close eye on the skies for us and will keep everyone informed if severe weather becomes a concern. 🩷Gates open at 6PM.
If Mother Nature agrees, it will be!
🌲🌲Many thanks to Moku for sponsoring JUNE 7: COMEDY IN THE PINES🌲🌲

06/04/2026

Mark your calendars! It's almost Tour the Wild Side time! We love working with fellow community partners, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center and this is one of the events we cherish! Mark your calendar for our annual Tour the Wild Side!
This is a free event! A big thank you to our incredible sponsors, Lincoln Electric System (LES) Union Bank & Trust Runza Restaurants Schrader Landscape Design Wild Bird Habitat Store Prairie Legacy Inc.-Native plants and seed Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, U-Stop Shops Midwest Natives Nursery and to all the garden participants and wonderful Tour the Wild Side committee!

06/03/2026

Good morning from Wachiska! We're excited for Comedy in the Pines this Sunday! So far (barring hail or tornadoes!) we are a go, rain or shine, this Sunday! Broken Magic Comedy Friends of Wilderness Park , Wachiska Audubon Society Pepe's Bistro welcome you to come celebrate Lincoln's beautiful community!
*Bring your own chairs!
*Bring your own umbrella or popup (in case there are scattered rains)
*Bring your own drinks! Alcohol is allowed in designated area.
*Bring your ticket/email receipt. This is a 21+ event. We have ticket list at the gate.
*We love dogs, but dogs are NOT allowed in the nature preserve.
*Dress for the woods!
*Prairie Pines is private property, open to the public on weekends, a sanctuary for wildlife and plant life. Please help us keep it beautiful and carry trash out with you.
* Gates open to attendees at 6pm!
*We are excited to see you!

❤️Thank you for your love and support! This is our very first Comedy in the Pines and we are so grateful for this opportunity to share this beautiful place with all of you!

06/03/2026

Leaving our office in the woods tonight, the sun through the trees.🌿🌞🌿

05/30/2026

Celebrate Nebraska Bird Month today at Prairie Pines! 🐦 Join Wachiska Audubon and Prairie Pines Partners today from 1-4pm for an afternoon of bird-themed fun, hands-on learning, and activities for all ages in the arboretum.🐦
Explore the beauty of Prairie Pines, learn more about local birds and their habitats, and enjoy a family-friendly day outdoors surrounded by nature.
Bring your curiosity, your walking shoes, and the whole family! Prairie Pines Wachiska Audubon Society

05/29/2026

We want to thank everyone who took part in one of the most exciting days. 💙🧡💚💛 Give to Lincoln Day passed $10.7 million and we are still counting donations! THANK YOU for making the 15th annual bigger than ever!

Stay tuned as The Lincoln Community Foundation will be posting final results on Tuesday. When Lincoln comes together - big things happen! 🌟

05/29/2026

Thank you so much everyone for chipping in to care for our prairies and pines! During Give to Lincoln Day you gave $46,812.28 (!!! )
to support Wachiska Audubon's work.
🩷Thank you to all of Lincoln's citizens for supporting the hundreds of non profits that make Lincoln a special place to live.
Last night ,at midnight , Lincoln broke records as the community of Lincoln gave $10,783,030 to help the work throughout the city in social work, environmental work, the arts and community!

05/28/2026

Don't forget! Now until Midnight, May 28th: Give to Lincoln Day! https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/wachiska-audubon
Please help Wachiska Audubon continue our work for the area. Every small amount helps. 🩵🧡💚💛
We are in our 53rd year of protecting natural habitats.
We began in 1973 bringing people together to preserve and restore tallgrass prairies and other natural ecosystems to support native wildlife, provide nature education, and advocate for
the sustainability of our natural community.
🩵🧡💚💛
LANDS PROTECTED BY WACHISKA AUDUBON:
Prairie Pines Nature Preserve . Berg East Tallgrass Prairie
Berg West Tallgrass Prairie . Lamb Tallgrass Prairie
Dieken Tallgrass Prairie . Fertig Tallgrass Prairie
Knott Tallgrass Prairie . Klapka Tallgrass Prairie
Gewacke Tallgrass Prairie . Wildcat Creek Tallgrass Prairie.
🩵🧡💚💛
WACHISKA AUDUBON EVENTS & EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
Wachiska Speaker Series . Prairie Discovery Days .
Tour the Wild Side . Bird EnCOUNTer .
PRAIRIES&PINES Volunteer Day . BIRD HIKES .
MUSIC IN THE PINES . COMEDY IN THE PINES
🩵🧡💚💛

05/26/2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful surprise today! 💙🧡💛💚https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/wachiska-audubon

After a long weekend, we have BIG news today for four lucky nonprofits...

Launch Leadership
Great Plains Trails Network
OpenSky Policy Institute
Wachiska Audubon

You're the winners of our Online Daily Drawings powered by LCF.

We're in the home stretch, folks! There are just two more days to donate online and be eligible for a $250 boost from Lincoln Community Foundation. Visit www.GiveToLincoln.com to support your favorite participating nonprofits today!